Telephone number with extension distribution system and method

Abstract

The present invention is a telephone number with extension distribution system and method, preferably for toll-free vanity telephone numbers. The preferred embodiment of the system for distributing telephone numbers comprises a client computer connected to a server through the Internet. The server interfaces with a database, preferably using a TCP/IP network. The database contains (i) telephone numbers, preferably toll-free, (ii) extensions affiliated with the telephone numbers (iii) terminating telephone number(s) assigned to a telephone number and affiliated extension. The client computer can search the database and select a telephone number and select an available extension. The client computer then inputs a terminating telephone number(s) to be associated with the telephone number and affiliated extension. The database server containing telephone numbers and affiliated extensions interfaces with the server and the Interactive Voice Response (“IVR”) system. The IVR interfaces with the PBX switch which is the gateway to the Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”). The preferred embodiment of the invention further comprises an electronic mail server containing electronic mail addresses, whereby the user name (before the @ sign) is preferably the telephone number extension and the domain name preferably matches the telephone number (after the @ sign).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for distributing telephone numbers comprising the following: 
 connecting a client computer to a server at a location remote from the client computer;    searching a telephone number database;    selecting a telephone number from the telephone number database;    selecting a telephone number extension for the telephone number;    inputting a terminating telephone number to the telephone number database; and,    assigning the terminating telephone number to the telephone number and telephone number extension in the telephone number database.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the telephone number is a toll-free telephone number.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where the telephone number is alphanumeric.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 connecting the telephone number database to a telephone network; and,  
 bridging phone calls to the telephone number and telephone number extension to the terminating telephone number.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising assigning an electronic mail address to the telephone number.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  where the electronic mail address comprises a domain name having the telephone number.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising assigning a voice mail box to the telephone number and telephone number extension.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  where searching the telephone number database is done using a search engine.  
     
     
         9 . A method for distributing telephone numbers comprising the following: 
 connecting a client computer to a server at a location remote from the client computer;    searching a telephone number database of toll-free telephone numbers;    selecting a toll-free telephone number from the telephone number database;    selecting a telephone number extension for the toll-free telephone number;    inputting a terminating telephone number to the telephone number database;    assigning the terminating telephone number to the toll-free telephone number and telephone number extension in the telephone number database;    connecting the telephone number database to a telephone network; and,    bridging phone calls to the telephone number and telephone number extension to the terminating telephone number.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  where the toll-free telephone number is alphanumeric.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising assigning an electronic mail address to the telephone number.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  where the electronic mail address comprises a domain name having the telephone number.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising assigning a voice mail box to the toll-free telephone number and telephone number extension.  
     
     
         14 . A system for distributing telephone numbers comprising a client computer connected to a server through a network; the server having a telephone number database containing terminating telephone numbers assigned to telephone numbers and affiliated telephone number extensions whereby the client computer can search the telephone number database and select a telephone number and affiliated telephone number extension, input a terminating telephone number, and assign the terminating telephone number to the telephone number and the affiliated telephone number extension.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  where the telephone number is a toll-free telephone number.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  where the toll-free telephone number is alphanumeric.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  where the server and telephone number database is connected to a telephone network by a PBX switch.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  where the server further comprises an electronic mail server containing electronic mail addresses assigned to the telephone numbers and affiliated telephone number extensions; the electronic mail server accessibly connected to the client computer by the network.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  where the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  where the server further has a separate voice mail box assigned to each telephone number and affiliated telephone number extension; each separate voice mail box being accessible from a telephone network.  
     
     
         21 . A system for distributing toll-free telephone numbers comprising a client computer connected to a server through the Internet; the server having a telephone number database containing terminating telephone numbers assigned to toll-free telephone numbers and affiliated telephone number extensions whereby the client computer can search the telephone number database and select a toll-free telephone number and affiliated telephone number extension, input a terminating telephone number, and assign the terminating telephone number to the toll-free telephone number and the affiliated telephone number extension; the server and telephone number database being connected to a telephone network by a PBX switch; the telephone number and the affiliated telephone number extension being accessible by the PBX and an IVR.